Sam Konstas’s mentor Shane Watson believes circumstances have thrown up a “excellent storm” for the teenager prodigy to make his Take a look at debut within the house sequence in opposition to India.
Konstas introduced himself as a Take a look at bolter with twin Sheffield Protect centuries for NSW earlier this month and appears set to jostle with Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris for Australia’s top-order emptiness in spite of everything three made the Australia A squad.
Matthew Renshaw and Josh Inglis are out-of-the-box choices, however with solely six first-class video games to his identify, 19-year-old Konstas has additionally been thought-about as a daring choice to companion Usman Khawaja on the prime.
Watson stated selectors want solely look to the participant Konstas would substitute for proof uncommon abilities should be given early probabilities at Take a look at cricket; Injured allrounder Cameron Inexperienced made his Take a look at debut at 21 on India’s final tour of Australia, having been earmarked as a prodigy taking part in Sheffield Protect for WA.
Watson felt the age of the present taking part in group was additional proof of the necessity to inject younger blood; there is no such thing as a participant youthful than 30 who each performed in Australia’s final Take a look at match in March and is match for the summer season.
“The entire state of affairs is, in my thoughts, an ideal storm to have the ability to give him a chance to have the ability to play Take a look at cricket,” Watson advised AAP.
“For me, that is an opportune time, understanding that the bowlers are getting old, there’s Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja as a place to begin who’re getting old. They’ve nonetheless clearly received quite a lot of nice cricket in entrance of them.
“However the one factor Australian cricket at all times did extremely effectively was see somebody who’s completely different from all of the youthful stars coming via and get them into the Australian set-up, as early as they’ll inside motive, to have the ability to assist them be taught.”
Present captain Pat Cummins memorably turned the second-youngest Australian debutant in Take a look at historical past when the then-18-year-old earned a primary saggy inexperienced on the 2011 tour of South Africa, whereas Konstas’s batting predecessors Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh have been each given the nod at 20.
Watson himself can vouch for the advantages of incomes worldwide expertise early, having first performed ODI cricket as a 20-year-old.
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“There isn’t any doubt that my one-day cricket would by no means have developed to the heights that it did with out me being across the Aussie workforce (at a youthful age),” stated Watson, who went on to play in Australia’s 2007 and 2015 World Cup triumphs.
Watson has been working with Konstas for the very best a part of 4 years, having first come throughout him as a scholar at Cranbrook — the Sydney faculty attended by Watson’s son.
He named Konstas’ single-minded dedication to his craft as his most hanging attribute.
“From the primary second that I met Sam, the factor that jumped out at me essentially the most was his determined want to be the very best that he probably may very well be,” Watson stated.
“The primary time I had a web session with him as a 16-year-old, he hits the ball in another way; the shot choices that he has out there to him and his defence.
“However then understanding how diligently he has been engaged on his psychological recreation as effectively, it completely doesn’t shock me to see what he is in a position to do.”
AAP
